Conveyer



H. CONRAD July 18, 1950 CONVEYER Filed Oct. 24, 1944 Patented July 18,1950 CONVEYER Horton Conrad, Chicago, 111., assignor, by mesneassignments, to Lake Shore Engineering Company, Iron Mountain,;;Mich., acorporation of Michigan Application October 24, 1944, Serial No. 560,105

This invention relates in general to a conveyor and is more particularlydescribed as a portable conveyor for receiving coal or other materialand discharging it at a distance therefrom. In unloading coal or othermaterial from a wagon or truck, it is frequently desirable to dischargematerial at a different elevation either above or below the point whereit was received. For power conveyors, an electric motor or an internalcombustion engine may be provided, but a source of current is not alwaysavailable, and for a more general use or application, a small internalcombustion engine is desirable. If such an engine is placed upon aconveyor which is tilted at various inclinations, the oiling and fuelsystems are seriously affected if not 'rendered inoperative. The presentinvention provides an adjustable mounting fora conveyor of this type inwhich provision is made for maintaining the engine in upright positionfor various inclinations in either direction froma horizontal position.

An important object or the invention is in the provision of a conveyoradapted to be positioned at various inclinations and having anadjustable motor support and mounting which may be varied in accordancewith the inclination of the conveyor to maintain an upright position andthus to provide for an efiicient operationof the engine. c

A further objector the invention is to provide a portable conveyor of atype adapted to be carried with a truck and transported from place toplace for use therewith, the conveyor having a wheel upon which it ismounted and a removable engine and mounting which may be quickly appliedto and removed from the conveyor.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a belt typeconveyor having a gear reduction drive from an operating engine orpulley and a conveyorbelt which may be tightened and loosened dependingupon the material or service desired.

:A still further objectof the invention is to provide a light and strongportable conveyor 11 Claims. (01. 198-203) Bil adapted toreceivematerial at one end and to deliver it from the other end with anintermediate driving means mounted above the conveyor and movable atvarious angles with respect thereto. i

Other objects of, the invention will appear in the specification andwill be apparent from the accompanying drawing in which,

Fig. 1 isa side elevation of a conveyor in accordance with thisinvention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the conveyor shown end or side of a truckwhere material may be shoveled or dumped directly upon the receiving endof the conveyor, the other end of the 'conveyor is elevated or inclinedto deliver the material at a higher or lower level and the operatingengine is set up in its holder and fastened'at such an angle that itwill be held therein in substantially upright position regardless of theinclination of the conveyor.

, Referring now more particularly to the drawing s', a conveyor frame ispreferably composed of light-weight angle and channel bars 6 and I toform an elongated hollow structure of the desired length. The frame issubstantially rectangular in cross section and comprises a metal troughor plate 8 extending along the top and having upright sides 9 withupwardly inclined ledges I0 and downwardly turned edges II which overlapthe upper edges of theside frames. This trough 8 extends to a positionadjacent the-rear end of the conveyor and is continuous to the front ordischarge end of the conveyor.

At the rear end of the conveyor is a loading section l2 which is flushat the top with the remainder of the conveyor but preferably hascontinuous side plates and a bottom 13 which is inclined upwardly towardthe end so that by disposing wheels I! upon an axle l5 which is mountedin brackets l6 extending downwardly from the main frame of the conveyorat a point just beyond the loading section, the rear end may approachthe ground upon which the wheels are supported, thereby allowing theother or dis-v chargeend to be elevated to a greater extent.

Movable upon the plate or trough B is a continuous belt I! which passesover a roller or pulley l8 mounted upon brackets l9 extending forwardlyfrom the end of the frame and also mounted at the rear end upon anadjustable pulley or roller 20 which has a mounting shaft 2| engaged ateach end by a screw 22 which passes through a fixed perforated ear 23projecting outwardly at the side of the frame and having adjusting nuts24 for moving the pulley, thereby tightening the belt and holding thepulley in any adjusted position. The side plates Connected to the frontpulley is a gear 28 118W.-

ing a sprocket chain 29 connecting it to a small sprocket 30 carried ona counter-shaft 3 l-mounted' weight for holding the pulley in beltdistending position.

Also mounted near the rear end of the conveyor in side plates i securedto the upright sides 5 of the trough is an idler pulley 58 for engagingthe belt IT. and guiding it to the rear roller 20.

'With Lthis,. construction,sthe conyeyoriisireadily set up for-use; themotor"and its'mounting may be quickly removed and quickly applied to thedriving belt 5E3 which is tightened to driving relaconveyor by simplydisengaging or engaging the tion and held in that position by the belttightener pulley 53,": andthemotor mounting, which is easily in brackets32 attached to the outer upright side's;

9 of the trough 8. Connected at the other end of the shaft 3| is a largesprocket 33 having a sprocket chain 3d connecting it to a, small?sprocket 35 carried by a counter shaft 36 mounted in other brackets 33secured to the outer upright sides, 9, of ,w the trough 8. This formsareducti'on drive for 'a belt*which is' connected to an Operating motor01'. engine. Attached "to the side frames of'the ;conveyor., and,extending upwardly therefrom xadjacent fthe lOngitudinaLcenter are,engine mounting plates 40-eachl having (at central ,mounting notch 4 lthe,-:upp er edge-311d. one of the plates having a projection extendinginwardly therefrom. a I

An. internal lcombustionl-engine $3 for. driving the: conveyor; belt-ismounted upon a base 44 secured at" oppositesides :to send ,platesd 5,and, 45s. The. 8114;213-13128': 45. has a.. mounting studgtl; adaptedttobeiseatednin oneeot the :notches 4 l= of; orl'eiofthemountings-plates:40; and-,atnthe ,othen ends aemotoreshatt 2 48 t extendswbeyondi the;end ,i plateL-flfii'and :isl-sea-tedinthe l-notch- {4 hot trhBrOthBPi:mounting plate 49 and has a.-driving.pu1ley l.9 secured --to'v the-shaft:- outsides of.-the-. mounting plates: This driving;.=pulley;,isconnected-by a belt. 50uwith aidriving; pulley 5 lmOllII1JedFODLCOilILtEE shaft?36wof ther:reductionndrive and since the:driving-i pulleyz= 49 is usually. smalleruthanw the pulley 1:54 =itrrconstitutesafurtherreductiongdnive connection-r Sincetherengin'e 43should always;be;i operated-J in -anrupright position andw-the con=veyoirmay @be inclined 'either upwardly or downe watdl'y, the anotdnmounting; allows -;the :baseirllw, to swing with' ita -plates ifi and ilfiiuponr the stud M 'and the shafit 24 8 ire'spectively? the notches ofthe mounting plates llfifithereby:maintaining: the pull'ey w alwaysv-upon thersame center lihe and requiring: no 1* change I for: anyadj-Listed 5 inclination of th'e motor mounting: 'In: order: tohold themotor in difie'rent angularxpositionsi the side plate- 46 is provided''at its lower edge 'with? a plurality of notches 52 preferably arrangedupon a curved iarc' -with the shaft'ua' as a centeru These notches-:areadapted=to engage the =stud l 2i extending inwardly from "the adj acent'*mouriting plate lfi depending upon ath'e inclination Ofitl'id conveyor,and" also 'in 'the horizontal 'position thereof? the arrangement being"4 such- I that-" in applying-"the =r'n'otor mounting to the conveyor :inany inclinedposition; the. motor mounting :is held with -theeng-ineimitsproperupright pos'itiorras it is lowered into engagement with thei'slotsl Ii and -ias the slots iiare engage'dfthecorresponding notc'h lifl willbe engaged with the'stud 42* m an cordance with 'the inclinationof'thcnveymr. Ifi order to maintain the driving belt 5 I tightly indriving position; an idler pulley 53 "is mou'nted at theend Qffla"lever" fi l' upon' a pivot i'i5' carried b'y the adjacent mountingplate ii) and having a =-long extending arnr 56 i which" constitutes a:

removable by simply lifting it from engagement "withthe n otches-lllacfthe supporting plates 40,

is as easily returned and set in any inclined positllOIlqTWit-hlIGSpBCiYYtOIIhE conveyor for keeping the engine in upright position bysimply lowering the engine mounting in the notches 4| until one of thepositioning notches 52 engages the angle positioning-studs zlwhereuponthe motor :mou'nting is also properly- 'seated'tinthe notches 4 lThis:conveyor::is oha lightrand strong construe-u tion? such .that zit:is adaptedl to rbe-z'i'carried with the truck or otherrvehicl'e 'and'maybe "moved: upon its zwheels I H therewith; andomay also be easilyzset: inoplacesv-a-nd supported'iby the aWhBGIS' inqany desiredposition,the Outen-or discharge end beings-usually engaged :or heldrinriplacet-tomaintain: ,:the conveyor: at-ritsndesired'zlevelwas; for exannple; uponawindowi ledger-=60; aseshowni -.in Figs 1,: oranyjothemsuitablezisupporting structune; either above.OIqbGlUWiitSrilGtZGl 13051171011; Material to z-be conveyedwisdeposited, upon-:themoving-belt atthe-rrear end 10f rthewonveyor andwis-.-moved-i-andi' discharged -fr.orn-t; the belt Clllel-wthfis ulley r"Beat the other. endaof i the-; conveyor ,l Theareductiona drivemakesimpossible z-topuselazrelatively-V smalk high speed,engineawhich-.,willmove-the material: rapidly ,upon thetconveyon- V I claim-z. v 1., In a;conveyor; the combinatiomwith .a longitudinalLhollow frame of.anlendless belt movar. ble on endipullys therein an,engine and,mount,-,ing; means ,thereforucarried bylthecframe inter c-l. mediate ,the.endseof rtheebelt, ...an {engine ,suppprt. pivotally; carried in,themounting, driyingrmeans extending from the engine ,which ,is ,mountedon, the support to one of "the end pulleys, and ,,i n terengagingmeansbetween the support and 'the mounting for, positively adjusting; andiholding the engine at diiferent angular positions in the mounting, tokeep the engine in uprightposition independent of the inclinationzof theconveyor." 2;, A' portable'conveyor, comprising a' wheel mounted framewith" an; endless conveyor belt mounted for movement longitudinallythereof; an internal combustion engine for; driving, the belt, and amounting" onthe -frame including" acarrier in whichthe'engine-isradjustable angu larly about shaft as-ahorizontalfixeddriv'-' ing aids,- the -adj'ustment comprising "a pin finedon themounting, and the carrier comprising-an upright "plate having notches vin the edge -to engageth'e pin so thatthe engine may be hel'd'ir'rupright position for 'diiferent-inclined' angular positi'ons ofthe-conveyor:

3:3 'A' portable conveyor, comprising a hollow frame, anendless beltmounted" for--'1nov(-1n1ent therein, an engine mounting connected to andextending upwardly from the frame,- an internal combustion engine andacarrier therefor rotatably engageable in the mountingaboutthe'engineshaft as an axis, a' reductiorr drive connection from the engine sh'aitand mounted' in-the:

frame for moving the belt, and an adjustable connectionbetween theengine carrier and the engine mounting comprising a pin fixed on themounting and an upright plate on the carrier having a plurality ofnotches at the lower edge toaengage the pin for holding the engine atdifferent angular positions in the mounting but still maintaining thebelt driving connection.

4. In a conveyor, the combination with an endless belt mounted in alongitudinal hollow frame, of a pair of side plateseach having an opennotch at the upper end, an=internal combustion engine 'and' a carriertherefor mounted in the notches of the side plates and including anengine shaft and a driving pulley extending outwardly through the notchin one side plate with the dri'ving pulley at the outer side thereof, areduction drive connection between the pulley and one end of the belt,and means including a projection at the inner side of one of the sideplates,'and a plate projecting downwardly from the engine carrier withnotches in the lower edge thereof for selected engagement with theprojection for holding theengine in upright position;when the conveyoris horizontal or inclined in either direction therefrom, and maintainingthe driving connection between the engine and the belt for all inclinedpositions of the conveyor.

5. A motor mounting for a belt conveyor movable longitudinally in ahollow frame, the mounting comprising side plates each extendingupwardly from the frame having an open notch at the upper end, a motorcarrier having extremities for mounting it to swing in the notches ofthe plates, one of the extremities comprising a driving shaft from themotor and a driving pulley at the outer end of the shaft outside of theplate, a driving connection extending from the pulley for operating thebelt, a projection extending inwardly from one of the plates, apositioning plate extending downwardly from the carrier having aplurality of notches in the lower edge any one of which is adapted toengage the projection when the carrier is seated in the notches of theside plates to hold the motor carrier in an upright position, the notchof the positioning plate which is engaged depending upon the inclinationof the conveyor.

6. A portable conveyor, comprising a wheel mounted frame adjustable todifferent inclinations on the wheels, a trough extending in the conveyoralong the top thereof and having upwardly extending edges which overlapand are secured to the upper sides of the frame, an endless belt havingits upper run extending in the trough and its lower run extending belowthe trough, a driving pulley for mounting the belt at the forward endthereof, an adjustable pulley for mounting the belt at the rear end ofthe frame, an engine mounting intermediate the ends of the frame, anengine carrier rotatably adjustable in the mounting upon a horizontalaxis for various degrees of inclination of the frame, means forconnecting the carrier to the mounting at different angles, and a speedreducing drive connection between the engine in the mounting and thepulley at the forward end of the belt which is maintained for allrelative angular positions of the engine with respect to the frame.

7. In a portable conveyor, a frame having a wheeled support upon whichit may be variably inclined and an open trough at the top thereof, abelt having its top run in the trough and its bottom run below thetrough, a driving pulleyat the front end of the conveyor over which thebeltpasses, and a rear adjustable pulley in the frame at the other endof the belt movable for varying the belt tension, an engine mounting inthe frame intermediate the ends of the belt, an engine supported by themounting above the frame having a driving connection mounted in theframe for engaging the pulleyat the front end of the belt, and a guardplate at the rear end of the conveyor overlying the adjustable pulleytherein for insuring the deposit of material on the belt and forprotecting the pulley at the end thereof.

8. In a conveyor, a hollow metallic frame having a wheeled mounting uponwhichit may be variably inclined and an open trough in the upper side ofthe frame with sides engaging over' the upper edges of the frame, anendless belt having its upper run located in the bottom of the trough, adriving pulley and means for mount ing it in extended position at thefront endof the conveyor, a tightening pulley adjustably mounted at therear end 'of the frame over which the belt passes, an idler pulleymounted in the" being angularly reduced in height at the bottom from apoint adjacent the mounting wheels to the rear end thereof so the frontend can be raised to a greater height, a driving pulley mounted at thefront end of the frame over which the belt passes, a belt tensioningpulley mounted at the rear end of the frame over which the belt passes,an idler pulley mounted within the frame below the trough adjacent therear end of the frame over which the lower run of the belt passes toguide this portion of the belt in the inclined portion of the frame tothe rear pulley thereof, and power means mounted in the frame and havinga driving connection with the front pulley for driving the belt.

10. In a conveyor, the combination with an elongated hollow frame havingan open trough at the upper side thereof, of means mounting the framefor variably inclining it endwise, a continuous belt having its upperrun movable in the trough and its lower run in the frame below thetrough, a driving pulley at the front end of the frame, an adjustablepulley for the belt at the rear end of the frame, an adjustable enginesupport carried by the frame and overlying the trough intermediate theends thereof, an engine mounted on the support, a speed reducing driveconnected to the pulley at the front end of the frame and comprising asecond driving pulley extending outwardly from the frame adjacent theengine, and a driving pulley connected to the engine and extendingoutwardly from the pending upon the inclination thereof; a drivingpulley, a driving belt extending between the engine driving and saidsecond driving pulleys, and an idler pulley mounted upon a weightedlever for engaging the driving belt between the two last said pulleysfor keeping the belt tight independent of the inclination of theconveyor,

11. A conyeygmg cplnprising; a frame mounted;

fon -variahleq end ise.- incl-inatiomhaving abelt me ee n i udinaivrtherein avdriving pu mounted ill-3171516 ,-fra ne,,at-,thel-front end,of the belt, aitightenipg pulleyadjustably mounted in the frameatthea'eag -end; of;the.-be1t; a pair of motor ,mguntingg plates;extending upwardly at the sides; Of*;th frame,- a motor mounted in theplates and means for hqlding it in various angulamrpositions with:respeetto the plates depgngli ngz rupon ."the inelination thereof, adriving pulley extending from one end of themotor atptheisidesoflgtheframe, a; reduetiondrive conneetig ,mpuntedr in thefi frame. conneetedwith at th ,-front, -end:of,thebe1t, and havpulley adjaeent-thesaidmotorldriving -puIley prOjectir gat, one side of; the frame, a driying,belt conneetion between the motor driving pulley and-the-dri;ve pulleyatr'the side of thefram y: a belt tig-l'itenenx pulley for: engaging thes8 id-,-.-d 1fiving belt, connection;- and a lever upon which. the-belt,tightener pulley .is mounted pivoted ,to rthe adiacent side, plate and,having a long ;-weighted-,free. end which holds the idler HORT N 5REFERENCES ,CITED:

The following refere neeg are of reeord ln th'e file of this patent; vUNITED STATES ,RATENTS.

10 Number Name, 1 Date,

1,301,642 Bradney et'al; Apr. 22; 1919; 1,520,332" Connol1y Dec.23,1924; 1,715,141 Mathieson May 28,- 1929'; 1,800,428: Bebinger et a1Apr, '14, 1931:

15 1,837,276 Levin- Dec.- 22,1931 1,888,309 Cramer Now- 22,19321,989,537 Wentz Jan; 29,- 1935:- 2,016,994 Fleming- Oct; 8,'= 1935;2,202,882 Wylie June 14;1940:

20 2,304,419 Pratt.- Dec. 8-," 1942;

2,332,729 Kl'osterman Oct-26,4943

FOREIGNQPATEN IS Number Country- Date 814,196* Franoe"- Mar. 15, 193?ulle n-lee ae ment il i-i 9 de riviner elt connection,

